A07163:489
The sick mans salve Wherein the faithful christians may learn both how to behave…The sycke mans salue VVherin the faithfull christians may learne both how to behaue…
The sick mans salve Wherein the faithful christians may learn both how to behave them selves patiently and thankfully, in the time of sickness, and also virtuously to dispose their temporal goods, and finally to prepare them selves gladly and godly to die. Made and newly recognised by Master Tho. Becon. 1561.The sycke mans salue VVherin the faithfull christians may learne both how to behaue them selues paciently and thankefully, in the tyme of sickenes, and also vertuously to dispose their temporall goodes, and finally to prepare them selues gladly and godly to die. Made and newly recognised by Maister Tho. Becon. 1561.
London: printed by John Day, 1561London: printed by Iohn Day, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Phi. In this world we all are but strangers & Pilgrims, we have here no dwelling City, but look ⟨p. 323⟩for an other that is to come.1 The houses that you leave behind you here,2 be they never so gorgeous & pleasant, are but earthy made of clay, and weather beaten stones, & shall in process of time decay & return unto dust & become things of nought. But after your departure from this vale of wretchedness you shall have a building of God,3 an habitation not made with hands, but everlasting in heaven. You shall dwell in a city, that is of pure gold, like unto clear glass, and the foundations of the walls of this city are garnished withal manner of precious stones,4 the gates are of fine pearl. Yea the streets of this heavenly city are pure gold. It hath no need of the sun, nether of the Moon to lighten it, for the brightness of God doth lighten, and the lamb is the light of it. And as touching your other ⟨p. 324⟩temporal things, from the which, as you say, death taketh you away, you have no cause to be sorry for it. For as concerning your gallant apparel, which if they be not worn will soon be moth-eaten, if they be worn,5 they will shortly fall to rags in the stead of them you being once placed in the heavenly city, shall be clothed of God with white garments, which shall never wax old, but always abide glorious & incorruptible. You shall also have a golden crown upon your head, & you shall sit with Christ upon his seat. And in the stead of your dainty fare, which how vile it is after the digestion you know, ye shall eat in the kingdom of God Manna that is hid,6 yea ye shall eat of the tree of life, which is in the mids of the Paradise of God. And this meat shall abide for ever most pleasant and uncorruptible. As touching